title: Bleb infections: clinically different courses of "blebitis" and endophthalmitis.
abstract: 1. Researchers have recently introduced the term "blebitis" to describe a limited form of bleb-related infection (with infection and inflammation limited to the bleb and the peri-bleb area, with or without anterior chamber involvement) in contrast to the more classic form of endophthalmitis. 2. Bleb-related endophthalmitis is the virulent form of bleb-related infection in which patients present with rapidly worsening visual acuity, redness, and pain with diffuse conjunctival congestion, opalescent blebs (with or without epithelial defects) with intense fibrin and/or hypopyon in the anterior chamber, and florid vitritis. 3. Blebitis and bleb-related endophthalmitis are two distinct bleb-related infections, each with different presentations, prognoses, and outcomes. It is important that clinicians recognize this and treat patients accordingly.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
authors.forename: R S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Ayyala
authors.forename: A R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Bellows
authors.forename: J V
authors.initials: JV
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.forename: B T
authors.initials: BT
authors.lastname: Hutchinson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D009877:Endophthalmitis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000628:therapy; D015818:Eye Infections, Bacterial / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000628:therapy; D014130:Trabeculectomy; D016896:Treatment Outcome